It’s customary to leave your waiter or waitress a 15-20% tip when you go out to eat.

But if you’re dining at Noodles & Company, you won’t have to leave your server ANYTHING!

The restaurant chain’s CEO says people who eat at one of his company’s 380 locations shouldn’t have to pay extra for good service. He is now implementing a no-tipping policy!

Kevin Reddy explained why, saying:

“Being nice doesn't cost you anything, and we don't really feel that folks should have to pay something additional for us to appreciate that they're choosing us over another restaurant.”

OK, but your workers still need to make a living!

According to Kevin though, his employees are taken care of by earning MORE than minimum wage at work.

Noodles & Co. would not release their payroll numbers but they feel confident that not only will what they pay employees keep them happy in their jobs, it also eliminates having to worry about what to do if the federal minimum wage is increased.

Hmm. We wonder how the servers feel about all of this.

Even if you are making more than minimum wage, that doesn’t mean you’re making as much as you would if you were receiving tips. Some people are very generous when they go out to eat.

Others…not so much. And considering Noodles & Co.'s menu items average for about $8, the check that people would be tipping on wouldn’t be very high to begin with.

What do you think, Perezcious readers?

Should restaurants forego letting their workers collect tips and pay them more per hour instead?

56 comments to “Nationwide Restaurant Chain Wants You To STOP Tipping Your Server! But Will This Trend Catch On?”

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Minimum wage should cover the cost of staff, so if minimum wage isn't enough to live off, it should be increased by your government. It's ridiculous to have a minimum wage that your working citizens can't even live off. It's degrading to any person who works and still can't make a living relying on people leaving them money on a table….. I think Americans should expect and demand better from their government. Look to other countries and see how they do it, because we don't rely on tips to live.

this is such bs, I worked there for a long time up until a few years back and we were not allowed to accept tips! My friends that still work there aren't allowed to take tips! If someone left a tip on the table we had to put it in a company jar that they would use to pay for our company "outings" (which we never had)! If you got caught taking a tip you got fired! That guys a douche!

I don't understand tipping. What makes your job superior to others that makes you feel like you need a tip? I understand if someone wants to leave a tip, but now people just expect a tip and if you don't give a tip you are an awful ,cheap person? Why doesn't every minimum paid job receive tips then? Why don't you tip your cashier, dentist receptionist, or your teacher?

So this is how I see it being a former waitress and living off of my tips. Say you worked the minimum wage at $8.00 an hour. You worked the lunch shift which lasted for 5 hours. That equals to $40.00 and you still have not taken any taxes out. Working a lunch shift based on tips ALONE I would have made anywhere from $50.00 to $100.00 depending on the day of the week. Why would I subject myself to a lower income? Sure its a fixed wage but the beauty of being a waitress is knowing you can go in there and make that extra money. I hate this idea and I hope it doesnt catch on as a trend.

Everyone's missing the mark. If he pays them $8 an hour, he's not going to give them incremental raises over time. If they work there 5 years, they won't be making $13 an hour. Tips allow adults to work as servers & afford to live on their wage. He's turning this into a low wage job that no adult will be able to live on. It's also an economic loss to the country because when they make less money, they will pay less taxes. The money people save from not tipping will be spent on itunes or amazon, who pay virtually no taxes.That means less money for roads or hiring government workers. Small things add up.

I think what most people don't realize is that servers do NOT make minimum wage. They make $2.10 an hour. Yes, you are reading that right. Tips are needed to make it to minimum wage. I'm sure most would gladly forgo tips if like most of Europe they were paid minimum wage and maybe for exceptional service got an occasional gratuity.

Re: wh4t3v3rz – I was a GM for Noodles for a couple of years. The tips that were collected were very small, maybe $10-15 a month and usually went to cover drawer shortages to keep cashiers out of trouble. They pay barely above minimum wage. Something like 50 cents an hour over. Just so they can say they pay above min wage. Promise raises and bonuses that rarely come. Great food but they treat employees like shit.

I don't understand how it is possible the servers and bartenders make more than my executive chef husband at his restaurant. 4-year culinary degree, 15 years as a chef and a server right out of high school still makes more than him. They're paid a wage to do their job, as do grocery cashiers, receptionists, etc…but you dont see them getting a tip despite stellar customer service. I say F tipping!!!

Re: me – Hey douche, servers make $2.13 an hour. That isn't our choice, this is a tradition that was started way before our time. If you don't want to tip, then don't go out to eat, drink, or have a good time. If you can't afford to tip, then don't go out to eat, drink, or have a good time. Everyone in this country understands that this is the norm, and if you don't get it and don't tip, you are cheap piece of shit and complete waste of space. So much for being generous and kind, right?

Had dinner at Noodles tonight - this is not a full service restaurant. You order up at the counter - serve yourself drinks. I love the food here and the employees seem happy. If I were to work here I would not expect tips.. this doesn't seem too shocking to me. Panera doesn't do tips either.

Serving is one of the few jobs where you get paid based on how good you are at your job. It's a job where people work really hard but can make enough to buy a home, a car, take care of their family. I always say if you can't afford to tip, eat at McDonald's.

being a waitress is not an occupation, its a job. waiters should get paid minimum wage JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER EMPLOYEE at a restaurant and ppl shouldnt complain about taxes bc every other employee that gets minimum wage also get taxes taken out, and tips should be optional. i go out to eat, and waiters are there to take orders because its their job. i dont tip my doctor for doing his job.

I just recently left my server job and opened my own company. When I first started waiting tables 20 years ago, it was amazing. It was fun and you made great tips! Well boy have times changed. On a typical night at this last company known for their Cheesecake, servers were thrilled to leave with 10% tips because tipping has become so horrible and it is people like this business owner and celebrities like Oprah that lead people to believe its ok to tip 10% or less. Why can't we be like other countries where servers are paid better than getting tips and just hike up the prices?

Tipping is up to the customer, firstly, so the chain owner can't say boo to that. It would be fantastic if restaurants paid "well above" minimum wage but since he's not making that info public, it's probably not good enough.

Servers deserve to be tipped because they have to deal with the occasional asshole that on top of that ends up leaving no tip. Good service is hard to come by and so those who know and do their craft well should be compensated with tips. It's an incentive and even if people don't like it, it's part of the American Culture. We're not in Europe. Its bad enough that the IRS is meddling with 18% auto-grats for large parties. I can see this happening in chain restaurants , but small mom-and-pop places may resist this. On the other hand, people who have never worked in this industry will never know and arguing or convincing them over why they should tip is a never ending battle. All I can say is that if you don't want or can't afford to tip, stay home and cook some eggs. Servers don't work in this tough industry for pleasure.

Samantha, have you ever worked in the restaurant business? I don't know about everywhere else, but here in Texas, most waitpersons earn around $2.80 per hour. The rest of their salary is made up of tips. Unless they can prove that their tips to not equal minimum wage per hour, that's all they earn. Most employers don't give a damn if the waitstaff earns less than minimum. What you see is what you get. It's terribly unfair. If I worked at a carwash cleaning your car, I'd earn a better, more reliable and steady income than that of the person who caters to your every whim at a restaurant. THAT'S WHY WE TIP!

That's BS! I agree if you are gonna be in the service industry you have to have the right attitude and personality. I served all through school and beyond to help supplement my income. It is hard ass work people don't think it is but it is not easy peasy. I think you are going to kiss ass and do it with a smile you should be tipped. If you don't tip just watch the movie Waiting. It isn't that far from the truth including the visene trick.

This is bullshit. I worked at noodles and company for almost 2 years and I was making 8.12 an hour and did not have benefits. They even cut peoples hours so they didn't have to give benefits. I was sick of working in the front so I even taught myself how to cook and became the main line cook well I was working like a dog is still was only getting paid 8.12 an hour

The $2.15/hr servers are clearly enabling their employers to keep underpaying the serving staff by subjecting themselves to such a low pay gig. You're not doing this for the greater good and us patrons shouldn't encourage this wretched cycle by tipping. Like Ms. Chan said, "F tipping!!!'

I don't understand the minimal wage concept. In my country it means you have to be paid at least by this amount of money, so what does that mean in USA? And there are so many jobs that work much harder than waieters and have the same money (= minimal wage), but you don't tip them. If I have this kind of job, why should I tip? I don't have money and for some occasions you have to go eat or drink outside or should I be at home nonstop because I can't afford tips? The worst part is the waiters expect the tips and sometimes they are not even that nice to deserve it. Like I said, I don't know what it is like in USA, but when I will have for some reason journey in your country and I will be forced to eat outside, why should I tip more than I even have salary (we have cca 2 EUR per hour, which is not even enough for tip according your rule of thumbs)

During this the Second Great Depression, I say EAT THE RICH.
Job Creators? 99% of jobs created are poverty level. The public sector sure pays well though because of their unions or as they call them: associations.

Most of you people are so retarded. I used to waitress and yes, I made most of my money off tips. But I decided to better myself since I wasn't happy and look for better jobs to where I got a set salary and didn't have to rely on tips. No one needs to tip your asses for bringing them a plate of food. How about tip the bus boy for clearing the tables? Tip the chef for making the food? Quit bitching and learn how to better yourselves instead of bitching about whether people tip or not. You do NOT have to work in an establishment if you are not happy. Go to school, buy some nice clothes for a job interview, and leave the waiter/waitress jobs to people who are going to appreciate even having a fucking job.

I think tipping is stupid and shouldn't be customary nor normal. Granted I don't live in a wackadoo state. Our minimum wage is $9.. EVERYONE gets it including waiters… a waiter working at outback gets $10 per table. So if they work 5 tables an hour they are making $60/hour. That's nuts. And all just for doing their job. They are not going out of their way to be awesome.. they are simply walking to get your food and setting it down. it's not rocket science.. it's not hard to do… It's not even FAIR they get paid crazy high CEO wages when the rest of us don't get the opportunty

Re: priscilla –
Does your doctor have to put up with your attitude? No, because frankly, he doesn't have to. If your Dr feels you are being an ass guess what, he can drop you as a patient. Servers don't have that option. Someone decides to take their shit day out on them and they are expected to take it, smile, continue serving the guest and still be polite.
Besides, you are misinformed if you think taking your order is their only job. They are also expected to make you feel comfortable, make suggestions for pairings of wine and dishes or describe any dish that's on the menu.
"Well my dr has to do a lot of things too."
Yep. He/she does. They are paid accordingly. So Priscilla, I hope that you tip your server, delivery driver and hair stylist. If you don't, may your next hair cut, meal out, or whatever, be EXACTLY what you deserve.

Re: me – you obviously have never had to work for an hourly wage or have been a sever. Try being on your feet for 8 hours a day. Covered in someone else's half eaten food, making sure your 8 table section (mostly with 4 or more people at a table) was ok. It's people like u that need to work at a resteraunt for an 8 hour shift, then tell me you think servers shouldn't get tips. At most other minimum wage jobs (as you mentioned a receptionist) they get to sit on their butt all day. As a server you are constantly moving, constantly carrying a heavy tray with 5-8 cups or plates. I would strongly recommend reevaluating your statement.

Re: Samantha – Samantha, tipped employees in restaurants do not receive minimum wage. we make 2.17 and hour. This is not even enough to cover the taxes we have to pay on the amount of our sales every night. The government assumes that I make at least a 10% tip on every table so if you don't leave me a tip I have to pay out of my pocket to serve you. Also servers subsidize your cheap meal, if our employers had to pay us minimum wage, your dinner would be a lot more expensive than just leaving a 20% tip. This is why you tip your server. It's not because we think we deserve money over teachers and cashiers, it's because we don't receive a paycheck at all. And have to pay the taxes on your meal if your cheap ass doesn't leave a tip. Teachers and dentists and all those others you mentioned RECEIVE A PAYCHECK. That is why they don't receive tips. Does this clear it up for you? If you don't want to leave a tip then restrict your dining out experiences to this stupid ass noodle house or mcdonald's. Don't make me pay out of my pocket to wait on you. Yes I expect a tip. I am giving you a service and you should be paying for it. Just like the dentist. If you thought the receptionist was rude or made you wait at the dentists office, would you just not pay him for his services? I don't think so…

Re: Ali – Minimum wage was NOT created to be a wage to "live off of". It was meant to be a stepping stone wage/job - like a training position - to a higher job. The problem is, people except to live off of these low level starter jobs. Sorry, but I don't think ANY fast food employee should be paid $10-15 an hour. And I don't think someone should be expecting their burger flipping job to support them!

I have not eaten at a Noodles & Co, but I have been in one. Looked at the menu, realized what they called "Japanese" was WAY off the mark, and walked out.

It is not a traditional restaurant where someone takes your order and serves you. You walk up to a counter, place your order, step down, pay and go and sit and wait for your food. I do not think someone brining your food to you requires a tip. They don't "do" anything else. Well, I guess they clear the table, I don't know. They are not refilling beverages, checking on you… they are not "typical" servers.

It's not about being nice. It's about performing a service. As a server you perform a very subservient duty. The customers you deal with range from ok to hell on earth. Take away the chance of receiving a measly $5 tip and there goes any chance of your server remembering you need extra ranch. It's a physically demanding job that requires a lot of people pleasing. Take away a tip and you just have to deal with the poor service you receive.

Re: priscilla – your dr is getting PAID. When you pay your co-pay or get a bill for how much your visit was. Look at it next time. Your dr is usually getting around $400 per client, per visit. Your server not so much. That is the dumbest analogy ever. You must be classless and poor to have those views.

Re: T – he's not complaining. I am. I am pointing out the flaws the way restaurants work. Tips shouldn't be exclusive to servers and bartenders at a restaurant. Customers are tipping for the service of their servers, the quality of the food, the bussing of the tables, the runners serving the food…if you wanna tip, then the tips should be distributed equally. If you ever work for a restaurant, then you must know everyone work their tushes off, not just the servers. I was a server once and I didn't keep my tips all to myself..I distributed them to the team who made the dining experience for the diners a pleasant one. Although I dislike tipping, since it is expected in our culture, then the tips should be distributed fairly. Otherwise, F tipping!!!

Americans, your tipping culture is just ridiculous. You SHOULD pay a lot more to your employees. No one should live on tips. And infact a paid friendliness is just so fake. Take example on the countries where it's not common to tip, for example in Asia and in the Northern Europe. There the service exellent dispite no tipping.

I don't agree with tipping either. I've worked a retail job making minimum wage and a waitressing job making less than minimum wage but earning tips. My retail job was much MUCH harder than waitressing but I was making less money because I wasn't getting tips. Like the guy says, no one should have to pay someone just for doing their job and being a decent human being. If anything, the cooks should be tipped if the food was good. Just because someone took my order and walked my food twenty feet to me with a smile on their face, doesn't mean they should get an extra $5. People can argue my opinion all they want, but I've worked as a waitress, and this is still my opinion.

The reason your argument is invalid is because the wage for tipped positions are actually WAY LESS than "minimum wage" because the company expects customers to tip the servers to bring their average up to the minimum wage. If servers were paid at least minimum wage, I would absolutely accept your argument. Since servers are paid less than minimum wage, then your argument is simply irrelevant.

Bus boys earn at least minimum wage, and chefs tend to make more than that. Servers are NOT paid by the company as much as the bus boys or chefs, and they get away with this because it is expected that the customers tip in order to bring them up to at least minimum wage.

Go to school? That costs money. Where does the money come from? Working a job. Does getting paid less than $6/hr pay for the bills AND school? Hell no it doesn't. Get off your high horse and appreciate the crappy situation that the industry has created.

Re: Casey – Also this company is saying they pay more then minimum wage, minimum wage is depending on which state you live in. So lets say its in California, minimum wage is over 9 dollars, so you would probably be getting around 9.50-10 dollars. It takes a while to be able to live a comfortable lifestyle, you need to work hard. I had roommates up until I was 25 years old, that's life. I always tip my servers just because I've been in their situation and know how shitty pay can be. But if a place says it pays ore then minimum wage then whats the bitching about? This is one business. Hopefully others follow through. Being a waitress is a transition job, if you want to be one for the rest of your life I guess more power to you, but don't expect to be able to live a life that doesn't consist of month to month.

The fact that servers get $2.13 and make the rest in tips is true. However, if the server does not meet the state/federal minimum during their shift, then their employer needs to pay the remainder to meet the requirement (If not then the employer is breaking the law). The $2.13 is just the beginning wage, but the potential income is endless. We should be allowed to tip accordingly to the service received and not because I'm with a party of 6. Tips should be deserved, not expected!

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